Michigan in the News

An MSNBC.com article quoted Milford Wolpoff, professor of anthropology, about possible reasons that Neanderthals became extinct. He also suggested they may have left important genes in the gene pool of homo sapiens.

Jim Kosteva, director of community relations, told The Michigan Daily that U-M will receive the use of 78 percent of the parking spaces — about 1,000 spaces — in a proposed new parking structure on Fuller Road.

Shon Dwyer, associate director for operations and ancillary services at the U-M Health System, spoke with the Detroit Free Press about some of the measures UMHS is taking to prepare for a big outbreak of swine flu.

The ballroom of the Michigan Union was officially renamed the Rogel Ballroom on Friday to honor the contributions to U-M of Rich and Susan Rogel. The Rogels were presented with a plaque that will hang permanently in the ballroom. Pictured from left are Sam Pangas, chair of the Michigan Union Board of Representatives, Rich Rogel, President Mary Sue Coleman and Susan Rogel. Read more about the new ballroom in this week’s University Record. (Photo by Scott Galvin, U-M Photo Services)

New federal rules require updates for race and ethnicity dataA change in the way the federal government will report race and ethnicity data for educational institutions is making it necessary for the university to collect new information from students, faculty and staff. The most notable change in the Integrated Post-secondary Educational Data System will be a two-part question that first asks individuals to indicate if their ethnicity is Hispanic or Latino, before moving on to a second part that allows them to identify as more than one race. To get ahead of the change in rules, U-M is beginning to collect new data today, before the required deadline.

Shared scheduling of classrooms will make better use of space, resourcesAcademic units and the Registrar’s Office will begin sharing classroom-scheduling responsibilities for classes that meet between 8 a.m. and noon, effective for the Fall Term 2010 curriculum-planning period. The shared scheduling approach will help U-M meet classroom needs campuswide and make better use of space, as well as faculty, staff and student time.

The Michigan Difference

Helping boys become men
Growing up in Miami, Mike Trepper says, he and his friends were "good kids caught up in bad systems." He wanted to direct his energies toward a better purpose. After graduating from the School of Social Work, he worked for the National Conference for Community and Justice and helped found the Boys Initiative in Tampa, Fla., helping boys grow into responsible men.